CA1220064A

CA1220064A - Mechanism for producing pad-like cushioning dunnage from sheet material

Info

Publication number: CA1220064A
Application number: CA000456493A
Authority: CA
Inventors: Gary W. Ottaviano
Original assignee: Ranpak Corp
Current assignee: Ranpak Corp
Priority date: 1983-07-05
Filing date: 1984-06-13
Publication date: 1987-04-07
Also published as: US4557716A

Abstract

MECHANISM FOR PRODUCING PAD-LIKE CUSHIONING DUNNAGE FROM SHEET MATERIAL A mechanism for producing low density pad-like resilient cushioning dunnage product from sheet-like stock material, such as for instance paper, comprising a support for rotatably mounting a roll of sheet-like stock material in operative condition thereon, and means on the support adapted for coupling with means on a separable mobile cart, for detachably coupling the cart to the mechanism, with the cart having mounting means thereon for rotatably mounting a roll of sheet-like stock material and in position for feeding the stock material into the dunnage producing mechanism, when the latter and the cart are in coupled condition, to create the pad-like cushioning dunnage product.

Description

MECE~P~XSM FO~ PRODUCINB PAD-LIKE CUSHIONINC;
DUN~GE FROM SHEET M~TI3RIAL
~ ._ . . . .

Thi~ inven~ion relates irl general to a mechanism for producirlg pac)sing R;aterial or cu~hioning dunnag~, as it i~
known ~n 'che art, and rnora particula~ly 'co a dunnag~ prod~cing ~chzlnl~a for t~e productlon af a contirluou~ re3ili~nt pad-lilse dun~0 product from ~he~t-like stock n~terial di~po~ed in ~oll. fo~m, r~ormally mounted orl th~ mechanism~ and in combina-tion w~th a mo~iie cart u~abl~ ~n conjunction with the dunnag~
pro~luclng ~c~an~m, or supporging a roll of s~3ck ma~rial 10 on th~ c~r~, an~d wit~a mean~ on th~ cart and on the dunJIage producing m~chan~m, for det~chably coupling ~he cart and ~chani~lb to-3ether during u~ o~ the cart for furnishing th~
Jho~1t 81:0C~C ~teri~l to the dunnag~ producis~g mechani4m~
~ h~ vent~on provide~ an arrang~ment ~or ~he pos~-b.il~ty ~ supportirllg a larger and heavier roll of ~tock mater~al ln op~at~ve po~ition ~or u~e by the dunnag~ producing mechani~m a3 co~pa~ed to tha conventional arxang~ment of mounting the stoc1c roll on ~he dunnage produc~ng mechani~m per ~eO

In ~pplicant~ Canadian patent No. 1~072,795 dated Mar~ 4, 1980~ d antltl~d "Cu~hion~ng Dunnage Me~hani~m, Transfer Cart Th~refo~ and Met~od" there i~ di3clo~d a cushioning dunnago produ~ing all¢chani~m of th~ general i:yp~ utilized i ~h~ p~on ~nvsntios~, for producing pad-lik~ cu~llioning dunn~s~* product.

In such prior art mechanism, the stock roll is adapted to be conventionally mounted dir~ctly on the dunnage producing mechanism and the sheet material thereof is pullbd off the stock roll and fed into the mechanism upon operation thereof. The size (and weight~ of the stock roll that is able to be mounted on the dunnage producing mechanism is gen~rally limited, due in part to the desire ~o maintain the maximum peripheral extremity of the mounted stock roll substantially no lower than a horizon~al longitudinal plane passing through 10 the inner defining surface of the chute of tha dunnage produc-ing mechanism a~ the entrance to the chute, in the interests of optimum operation of the mechanism, and production of the cushioning dunnage pad product without problems occurring in the sheet stock as it is fed from the stock roll into the mechanism.

S ~0~
The present invention provides a dunnage producing mechanism of the general aforedescribed type which has means thereon adapted to couple the mechanism to a mobile cart which i~ capable of supporting a somewhat larger stock roll Qf material thereon, and to position the stock roll in operative position with respect to the dunnage pxoducing mechanism, so as to he in position to effectively feed the sheet-like stock from the stock xoll for passage into the mechanism, and thence to be formed by the mechanism into a re~ilient pad-like cushioning product. The mobility of the cart aids in providing for the aonvenient location o~ the stock roll in operative condition with respect to the dunnage producing mechanism, and yet the cart mechanism can be readily coupled to and uncoupled from the dunnage prodllcing mechanism per se.
Generally speakingg the present invention may be considered as providing a mechanism for producing low density pad-like cushioning dunnage products from sheet-like stock material, such as for instance paper, comprising a support having means thereon adapted for rotatably mounting a multi-ply roll of sheet-like stock material in operative rotatable position on the mechanism and a s~itching means downstream from the support and adapted to .i 10 receive the sheet-like stock material therein and operable to connect the same into a pad-like cushioning dunnage :
product, the support having generally fixed coupling means : ' ~ thereon, and a separate mobile cart having generally fixed ;` coupling means thereon coacting with the first mentioned ~ coupling means, for physically connecting the cart to the r'. mechanism, the first and second mentioned coupling means .,1 being connectable and separable by generally aligned horizontal linear movement of the cart and the second .~, 'i mentioned coupling means toward or away from the mech~nism and the first mentioned coupling means, the cart having means thereon for rotatably mounting a stock roll of sheet-~ like stock material thereon for feeding into the mechanism for the production of the pad-like cushioning dunnage product, and whereby the cart is operable for supporting a larger roll of stock material in operative position for use by the mechanism as compared to the si~e of roll of stock material able to be mounted on the support, means on the mechanism for separating the sheets of stock material as the latter move from the roll on the cart toward the lcm/(~

stitching means on the mechani.sm, and a single ~ransversely extending sheet stock engaging means intermediate the stock roll mounting means on the cart and the separating means about which the sheet like stock material in multi-ply form is adapted to pass prior to passing to the separating means~ the stock engaging means being disposed lower than the coupling means and higher than the roll mounting means on the cart~
Other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
B IEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS_ _ FIGURE 1 is a generally diagrammatic side elevational view of a dunnage producing mechanism and the mobile stock roll support cart disposed in coupled, ..~
operative positionJ for furnishing sheet stock material to the dunnage producing mechanism in the production of -~ resilient pad-like cushioning dunnage product:
FIGURE 2 is an enlarged, side elevational view of one of the cantilever support plate structures ~hich is . arran.ged for mounting thereon a stock roll of sheet-like ; stock material,. when the stock roll is mounted directly ,, onto the dunnage producing mechanismJ for furnishing the sheet stock to the mechanism in the production of resilient pad like cushioning dunnage product, and with the support plate structure embodying coupling means for coupling the dunnage producing mechanism to the mobile stock roll . ~upport cart, as shown in FIGURE l;
FIGURE 3 is a top plan view o~ the suppor~ plate structure illustrated in FIGURE 2;
lcm/~ 4 _ .

FI~U~E ~ is an end ele~ational view of the support plate structure of FIGU~ES 2 and 3 taken yenerally from the righthand end of FIGURE 2;
FIGURE 5 is an enlarged side ele~ational view of the stock roll support cart of the combination assembly illustrated in FIG~RE l;
FIGUR~ 6 is an end e~evational view of the stock roll support cart of FIGURE 5, taken from the lPfthand end thereof, FIGU~E 7 i~ an end elevational view of the stock roll 10 support cart of EI~URE 5 taken from the righthand end thereof;
FIGURæ 8 is a top plan view of the stock roll support cart o~ FI~URE 5;
FIGURE 9 i~ an enlarged, fragmentary, side elevational vi~w of one of the soupling receptacles on the stock roll support cart of FIGURES 5 through 8, for receiving therein the projecting coupling means on the dunnage producing mechanism, to couple the stock roll support cart to the dunnage producing mechanism, and a~ illustrated in FIGURE 1: and FIGURES 10 and 11 illustrate side elevational and top 20 plan views of another embodiment of the dunnage producing mechanism and mobile stock roll support cart combination~
disposed in coupled operative po~ition.
DESCRIPTION OF PR~FERRED EMBODIMæNT
Referring now again to the drawing~, there is illus-trated a dunnag~ producing machine 10 which is adapted to uti-lize a multi-ply stock roll of sheet-like material, such as for instance kraft paper thereon, and as illustrated in the afore-mentioned Canadian patent 1,07~,795. The roll of stock material is adapted to be rotatably mounted on a supporting rod extend-30 ing through th2 roll of stock material, which in turn is adapted to be mount~d at its ends onto the spaced brackets 12which are supported on ~he spaced, cantilevered support plate structures 14 extending laterally of ~he entranceway 15 to the dunnage producing mechani m~ and as shown in FIGURE 1 and in the aforementioned prior art Canadian patent 1,072,795.
The support plate s~ructure 14 in this embodiment of dunnage producing mechanism may be generally similar to those shown in the aforementioned patent 1,072,795 with the addition thereto, however, of coupling means 16 in the form of a generally lO fixed projection, in this embodiment, extending laterally of the aforementioned stock support bra~kets 12, and adapted for coupl~
ing with generally fixed coupling means on the stock roll support cart 18, as will be hereinater described in greater detail.
Suppoxt plate structure 14 preferably has elongated slots 20 formed therein as best shown in FIGUR~S 2, 3 and 4,for providing for a certain amount o~ adjustment of the position o~ the support plate on the main frame o~ the cushioning dunnage producing ma-chine 10, as will be hereinafter described in greater detail.
In the embodimant illustrated, the stock roll 22 20 ~urnishing the sheet material for the dunnage producing machine, is comprised of three superimposed webs of sheet material (e.g. kraft paper) and is pref~rred, but could be com~
prised of a single web, or a lesser plurality or a gxeater plurality of webs of sheet stock, which are prefera~ly of generally equal width. One end of the aforementioned rod 23 extending through the stock roll is adapted to have an opening therethrough rec~iving a transver~e pin (not shown) projecting laterally from the rod for preventing rotation of the rod upon rotation of the xoll about the rod. In other words, the roll )6~
of stock material fxictionally rotate~ relative to iks support-ing rod during pulling of the sheet stock material into the dunnage producing mechanism 10 and in the general manner described in conjunction with the arrang~men~t shown in prior art patent 1,072,795.
Machine 10 comprises, in the embodiment illustrated, a main support frame 24 including leg portions 24a which prafer-ably include means 25 associated therewikh, for leveling the machine frame with respect to the supporting surface S.
Frame 24 supports a longitudinally converging chute 26 which forms a guide and support for ~he we~s a, b and c of stock material drawn off the stock roll 22 as they pass through the mechanism. From the stock roll, the webs a, b and c move through the chute 26, after which they pass to a longitudinally elongated crumpler section 28 of the dunnage producing machine, and in the general manner described in aforementioned patent 1,072,795.
The chute section 26 in the embodiment illustrated comprises a widened entrance mouth or entranceway portion 30 of 20 generally oval shape with the major axis of the oval shape disposed in a generally horizontal plane which passes in general through the horizontal center plane of the crumpler section 28.
A push~.r mechanism 40 of the ~eneral type of afore-mentioned patent 1,072,795 extends downwardly into the chute section 26 into closely spaced relation to the inner surface 34 of the hottom wall 41 of the chute. Reference may he had to aforementioned patent 1,072,795 for a more detailed disclosure of suitable pusher mechanism.
Mounted on the main ~rame 24 downstream from the ~ 2q~6~
stock roll mounting lugs 12 is a separating means 54~ which in the embodiment illustrated comprises a plurality (and in the embodiment illustrated ~hree) of vertically spaced generally horizontally oriented bar-like elements 54a, 54b and 54c about which is a~apted to pass the webs a, b and c of the stock material fxo,m rotatable stock roll 22. As can be seen ~rom FIGU~E 1, the upper web a Q~ stock material is adapted to pass over separatox rod 54a, while ~he middle web b passes over separator rod 54b, and the lower web c passes over the lower 10 separator rod 54c. The separator me~hanism maintains the webs in separated condition prior to their being urged back into generally juxtaposed condition at the pusher mechanism 40, the latter being downstream from the preferab~y cylindrical (in cross section) separator rods. As can be seen from FIGURE 1, the lowermost rod 54c is disposed just slightly above the bottom periphery o~ the entranceway to chute section 26, and with suf~icient clear~nce so as to permit ready entry o~ the stock web c from the separator rod 54c to pass beneath the pusher mechanism 40~
The crumpler section 28 preferably has slots in its upper and lower walls into which extend connecting or stitching means 58 for connecting confronting portions of the generally loosely crumpled stock material together, as the latter is drawn through the crumpler section by the connecting means 58D
In this connection, the connecting means comprises generally loosely meshed spur gear-like elements which are rotatably mounted as by means of a re~pective shaft, for rotation rela-tive to the crumpler section 28. The stitching or connecting gear means are operatively coupled to a prime mover, such as 30 ~or instance an electric motor mounted on the machine frame, and tha actuation of such motor will cause rotation of the meæhed gear means, thus not only coining or connecting the stock material by rotation of the gears, but also pulling the crumpled stock material through the mechanism, after which the pad-like cu~hioning product P is emitted ~rom the discharge end o the machine where it can be cut into selected lengths as by means of cutter mechanism 76 mounted on the rear end of the machine. Reference may be had to afoxementioned prior art patent 1,072,795 for a more detailed discussion of a structurai 10 arrangement of cushioning dunnage producing mechani~m or producing the pad-lika dunnage produc~ P.
The aforementioned stock roll supporting cart 18 preferably i~ of fabricated construction as ~est illustrated in FIGURES-5 through 9, and preferably embodies anti-friction means, which in the embodiment illustrated comprises wheels 77, 77a for facilitating the movement of the cart 1~ over the sur-:;ace S and into coacting connected relationship with the dun-nage producing mechanism 10. The rear wheels 77a on the cart are preferably pivotable so as to facilitate the maneuvering 20 o~ ~he cart into coacting relation with the dunnage producing mechanism 10.
~ he cart comprises upright members 78 at the forward and rearward ends of the base frame 79 of the cart with ~uch up~
rights, adjacent the upper ends thereof in the embodimerlt illus-trated, embodying receptacle structure 80 which are adapted to re~eive therein the respective projection or male member 16 on the dunnage producing mechanism 10, thus providing for coupling of the cart 18 to the dunnage producing mechanism, and providing fox proper positioning of the stock roll 22 mounted on the cart, 30 for feeding into the dunnage producing mechanism 10.

_g_ ~2~
The receptacle means 80 are pre~erably such size as to generally snugly receive the male coupling projection 16 on the dunnag~ producing mechanism 10, to thus positively position the cart with respect to the dunnage producing mechanism 10 and to more or less frictionally hold it in coacting relation-ship therewith. In this connection, the aforementioned elongated slots 20 on the support plate structures 14, will provide for limited sidewise adjustment of the position of the male coupling projections 16 on the dunnage producing mechanism 10 10, so that the pro]ections will b~ in proper spaced relation-ship to be received accurately within the respective recess of receptacle structure 80 on the cart 18. Conven~ional threaded fastener means tnot shown) ext2nding through th~ slots 20 on each support plate structure 14, will provide for selectively fixing the position of tha support plate struc~ure with respect to the main frame 24.
Front and rear uprights 78 may be connected by means of cross bars 82 as shown in FIGURES 5, 6 and 7, with such cross bars 82 mounting thereon stock roll support bracket~ 84, 20 which may be of a generally similar type as those afore-described and referred to by reference number 12 on the support plate structures 14. Brackets 84 are adapted to recaive a rod 23 passing through the stock roll, in a generally similar manner as aoredescribed, ~or rotatably supporting the stock roll 22 on the cart 18.
It will be understood that the stock roll 22 can be of considerably larger size as compared to that which would be useable if such stock roll was mounted on the conventional support plate structures 14 of the dunnage producing machine, not only becau~e of the weight of the stock roll, but alsc because of the desirability in positioning the ~tock roll directly on the dunnage machine that the outer~nost periphery of the stock roll does not extend beyond a horizontal longitudinal plane ~ pas~ing through the lowermost point of the inner defining surface 34 of the entranceway to the chute of the dunnage machine, and a~ generally set ~orth and described in aforementioned prior art patent 1,072,795.
The stock roll support cart 18 pr~fexably ha~ cylin-drical, in cross section, bar members 88 extending between the respective pair of front and rear uprights 78, and is secured thereto as by means of w~lds. The sheets of stock material which represent in the emb~diment illustrated a tri-ply arrangement o~ sheet stock coming off the stock roll 22, are directed upwardly about the associated rod 88 and then downwardly about the separator means elements 54 prior to pa~sing beneath the pusher mechanism 40. ~he position of the sheet engaging bar 88 on the cart is preferably such that in

2~ the operative position of the caxt in coacting attached rela-tion~hip with respect to the dunnage producing mechanism, the bar 88 will not be disposed below the hori~ontal longitudinal plane passing through the lowermost point at the inner de~ining surface of the entranceway to the chute of the dunnage producing mechanism, thus ensuring that the initiation of movement of the stock material into the dunnage producing mecha-will not commence beyond or below such a horizontal longitudinal plane, and thus will aid in preserving the integrity of the ~.

8h~t ~toc~ mat~.rial, and will aid in pr~venting the tearing thor~o O
P~ sto~k ~heet ~:ngaging bar 8B i3 dispo~ed on both ~n~ of ~h~ ~tock roll ~upport car~ la, and ~hus in the event that th~ carlt ~s xev~r~ed, with the rearward end thereo r~ce:lving tht3 projectixlg coupling means 16 on the dunrla5te pro-duc!ing mechani~ lû rather ~harl the f~ont of the cart, the ~h~et~3 of ~ ock mat~rial can likew~se ba moved over the sheet engagirlg bar 88 ~t tha~ end of ~th~ car~ for entry into th~
dun~lage produ::ing mechani~m. Thu~ bar~ 88 on each end of th 3tock roll ~upport caxt are generally di~po~ed in a coplanar horlæoJltal plane. Th~ webs of ~heet stock are pre~rably dir~ct~d iEro~ the bottom of the roll tc!ward the a~sociafed ~a~ 88, and a~ ~llu~trat~d in FI~;U~: 1. Bars 88 also serve as handl~ for man~u~ering the cart 18 into c:oupled coaction with th~ dunnag~ produc~ ng r~chanism.
FIGUR~S 10 and 11 illustrate a revi~ed embodiment wh~re~n bar 88 ' over which 'che webs of sheet ~tock from stock roll 22 ax~ ~dapted to pa~ prior to Jpa89ing to ~he ~eparator m~an~ 54; i~ dispo~d or supported on tlle ~tructure 140 rather thall lbeing di~po~ed OIl the cart 18'. Bar 881 ext~nd~ be~ween ~upport ~l~ments 14 ( FIGUR~ 11 ) and may be ~ecured thereto by any suitabl~ m~an, 3uch a~ for instance by welds. The web~
of ~hs~t stock matexial fr~m stock roll 22 preferably are ~aken o~ th~ botto~Q o~ the roll a~ illu3trated in P`IGURE 10" a~d ~tend tliagonally upwardly, to pas~ over preferably cylindrical bar 88'- Cart 18' may ha~e CXOS8 ~ItnltB 90 ex1:0nding~ ltranY-versely betw~n upright~ 78 thereof. In other respect~;~ the -1~

~ 2~
FI~;~S 10 and l:L ernbodimerlk ar~ ~enerally ~imilar to that of th~ ~ir~t de3cribed embodiment~
From the foxegoing de cription arld accompanyitlg d~awings it will be -~en that th~ invention provides a mec~ani~m for producirlg low density pad-like cu~hioni~ durlnage from sh~t-like ~ock n~terial, sucll a~ for in~tance paper, ~nd including a 3upport for rotatably rnounting a roll oP ~hee~-lik~ ~to~k material thereorl in operative po~itisn, and wh~rein the sup~oxt h~s ~ upling means proj~ctiny ~cherefrom adapt~d 10 for coactisn with coupling mean~ on a mobile stock roll supE: or~
car~, ~or ~:oupling th~ cart to 'che dunna~ producing mechanism, and wh~re~ tha carlt has th~P capability of ~upporting thereon a l~go~ ~ize (and weight) of stock roll as compared ~o tha~
which would ordinarlly bQ u~eable wi1:h the dunna~e produciny machanism p~r ~e, thu~ enabling a longer run of pad-lilce cus~lonlng dunnage product to be produced on the mechanism without ~he n~c~si~y of earlier r~placement of the ~tock roll .
The invention also provides a stock roll suppor~ cart 20 which ca~ bq ~onv~niently manipulatQd for mo~7ing into and ~rom Co~CtiOll with the dunnage producing mechanism, and wherein ~ha stoc3c roll thereon can be conveniently and rapidly replaced a~
it i3 u3e~ up i~ conjunction with the production of the pad-lik~
cushionlalg dunnagQ produc~.
The term~ and expres3ion3 w~ich have been used are us~d a3 term~ of description and not o limitationO and there is no intentlorl in the u~e of ~uch terms and expre~sion~ of exclud~ng any equivalen'c3 o any of th~ featur~s ~hown or --13 ~

~ L22~
de~ribed ~ or portion~ thereof O and it i~ recognized that variou~ m~dl~ication~ are possible within th~ ~cop~ of ~he invention claim~d .

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. In a mechanism for producing low density pad-like cushioning dunnage products from sheet-like stock material, such as for instance paper, comprising a support having means thereon adapted for rotatably mounting a multi-ply roll of sheet-like stock material in operative rotatable position on said mechanism and a stitching means downstream from said support and adapted to receive the sheet-like stock material therein and operable to connect the same into a pad-like cushioning dunnage product, said support having generally fixed coupling means thereon, and a separate mobile cart having generally fixed coupling means thereon coacting with the first mentioned coupling means, for physically connecting said cart to said mechanism, the first and second mentioned coupling means being connectable and separable by generally aligned horizontal linear movement of said cart and said second mentioned coupling means toward or away from said mechanism and said first mentioned coupling means, said cart having means thereon for rotatably mounting a stock roll of sheet-like stock material thereon for feeding into said mechanism for the production of the pad-like cushioning dunnage product, and whereby said cart is operable for supporting a larger roll of stock material in operative position for use by said mechanism as compared to the size of roll of stock material able to be mounted on said support, means on said mechanism for separating the sheets of stock material as the latter move from the roll on said cart toward said stitching means on said mechanism, and a single transversely extending sheet stock engaging means intermediate said stock roll mounting means on said cart and said separating means about which the sheet-like stock material in multi-ply form is adapted to pass prior to passing to said separating means, said stock engaging means being disposed lower than said coupling means and higher than said roll mounting means on said cart.

2. The combination in accordance with claim 1 wherein said first mentioned coupling means comprises generally linear substantially rigid projections extending laterally of said support, and said coupling means on said cart comprising receptacle structure having recesses receiving therein said projections in the coupled condition of said cart to said mechanism.

3. In a mechanism for producing low density pad-like cushioning dunnage product from sheet-like stock material, such as for instance paper, comprising a support having means thereon adapted for rotatably mounting a multi-ply roll of sheet-like stock material in operative rotatable position on said mechanism and a stitching means downstream from said support and adapted to receive the sheet-like stock material therein and operable to connect the same into a pad-like cushioning dunnage product, said support having generally fixed coupling means thereon, and a separate mobile cart having generally fixed coupling means thereon coacting with the first mentioned coupling means, for physically connecting said cart to said mechanism, the first and second mentioned coupling means being connectable and separable by generally aligned horizontal linear movement of said cart and said second mentioned coupling means toward or away from said mechanism and said first mentioned coupling means, said cart having means thereon for rotatably mounting a stock roll of sheet-like stock material thereon for feeding into said mechanism for the production of the pad-like cushioning dunnage product, and whereby said cart is operable for supporting a larger roll of stock material in operative position for use by said mechanism as compared to the size of roll of stock material able to be mounted on said support, and including means on said mechanism for separating the sheets of stock material as the latter move from the roll on said cart toward said mechanism and said stitching means thereof, and sheet stock engaging means intermediate said stock roll mounting means on said cart and said separating means, about which the sheet-like stock material moves prior to passing to said separating means, said support comprising a pair of laterally spaced plate-like members projecting in the direction of said cart, said first mentioned coupling means comprising a rigid generally linear projection mounted on the respective plate-like member and extending generally horizontally outwardly therefrom, said coupling means on said cart comprising receptacle structure having recesses receiving therein in generally snug relation the respective projection, and means for adjusting the position of said plate-like members relative to said mechanism for aiding in alignment of said coupling means.

4. The combination in accordance with claim 3 wherein said mechanism includes crumpler means adapted to receive the sheet-like stock material therein, with said crumpler means having a stock material entry opening and a stock material exit opening spaced from said entry opening, chute means disposed ahead of said crumpler means for causing inward rolling of the lateral edges of the sheet-like stock material into generally rolled-like form prior to entry of the sheet-like stock material into said crumpler means, said chute means including an entrance mouth disposed in generally confronting relation to said separating means, said chute means extending lengthwise between said crumpler means and said separating means for funneling rolled edge stock material toward said crumpler means, said stitching means coacting with said crumpler means for connecting confronting rolled edges of the stock material together for producing the pad-like dunnage product, said stitching means including means for pulling the sheet-like stock material from the stock roll through said separating means, said chute means, and into said crumpler means, and pusher means extending into said chute means in relatively close proximity with the lower interior wall surface thereof, said pusher means being adapted to cause the sheet-like stock material to generally conform to said chute means as the stock material passes from the stock roll on said cart to said crumpler means.

5. The combination in accordance with claim 4 wherein said sheet stock engaging means is so located on said mechanism and with respect to said coupling means thereon that the sheet stock as it is being pulled from the roll mounted on said cart commences its travel from said stock engaging means toward said separating means at a location disposed so as to not extend substantially lower than a horizontal longitudinal plane passing through the lowermost point of the inner defining surface of said chute means at said entrance mouth.

6. The combination in accordance with claim 4 in-cluding cutter means disposed downstream of said crumpler means for cutting the formed pad-like dunnage product into selective lengths.

7. The combination in accordance with claim 1 wherein said cart comprises a base frame having forward and rearward ends and upright members extending upwardly from said base frame adjacent the forward and rearward ends thereof, each of said upright members having a receptacle thereon comprising the second mentioned coupling means and facing outwardly and adapted to receive in a recess therein a fixed generally linear horizontally extending projection on said mechanism when said cart is moved into generally adjacent connected condition with said mechanism, so that said fixed projection enters said recess of the respective receptacle, said projection comprising said first mentioned coupling means, said receptacles on said forward and said rearward ends providing for coupling of said cart to said mechanism from either end of said cart.

8. In a mechanism for producing low density pad-like cushioning dunnage product from sheet-like stock material, such as for instance paper, comprising a support having means thereon adapted for rotatably mounting a multi-ply roll of sheet-like stock material in operative rotatable position on said mechanism and a stitching means downstream from said support and adapted to receive the sheet-like stock material therein and operable to connect the same into a pad-like cushioning dunnage product, said support having generally fixed coupling means thereon, and a separate mobile cart having generally fixed coupling means thereon coacting with the first mentioned coupling means, for physically connecting said cart to said mechanism, the first and second mentioned coupling means being connectable and separable by generally aligned horizontal linear movement of said cart and said second mentioned coupling means toward or away from said mechanism and said first mentioned coupling means, said cart having means thereon for rotatably mounting a stock roll of sheet-like stock material thereon for feeding into said mechanism for the production of the pad-like cushion-ing dunnage product, and whereby said cart is operable for supporting a larger roll of stock material in operative position for use by said mechanism as compared to the size of roll of stock material able to be mounted on said support, said cart comprising a base frame having forward and rearward ends and upright members extending upwardly from said base frame adjacent the forward and rearward ends thereof, each of said upright members having a receptacle thereon comprising the second mentioned coupling means and facing outwardly and adapted to receive in a recess therein a fixed generally linear horizontally extending projection on said mechanism when said cart is moved into generally adjacent connected condition with said mechanism, so that said fixed projection enters said recess of the respective receptacle, said projection comprising said first mentioned coupling means, said receptacles on said forward and said rearward ends providing for coupling of said cart to said mechanism from either end of said cart, and wherein said upright members have connecting members extending therebetween and means comprising said stock roll mounting means on said cart mounted on said connecting members for rotatably mounting a stock roll of sheet material thereon, sheet stock engaging means on said cart about which the sheet-like stock material is adapted to move prior to passing to said mechanism, said sheet stock engaging means comprising a generally rigid bar disposed on said uprights and extending transversely therebetween at both said forward and said rearward ends, said bar at each of said ends being disposed below said coupling means and higher than said roll mounting means on said cart.

9. In a mechanism for producing low density pad-like cushioning dunnage product from sheet-like stock material, such as for instance paper, comprising a support having means thereon adapted for rotatably mounting a multi-ply roll of sheet-like stock material in operative rotatable position on said mechanism and a stitching means downstream from said support and adapted to receive the sheet-like stock material therein and operable to connect the same into a pad-like cushioning dunnage product, said support having generally fixed coupling means thereon, and a separate mobile cart having generally fixed coupling means thereon coacting with the first mentioned coupling means for physically connecting said cart to said mechanism, the first and second mentioned coupling means being connectable and separable by generally aligned horizontal linear movement of said cart and said second mentioned coupling means toward or away from said mechanism and said first mentioned coupling means, said cart having means thereon for rotatably mounting a stock roll of sheet-like stock material thereon for feeding into said mecha-nism for the production of the pad-like cushioning dunnage product, and whereby said cart is operable for supporting a larger roll of stock material in operative position for use by said mechanism as compared to the size of roll of stock material able to be mounted on said support, and wherein said cart has forward and rearward ends, and adjacent each end thereof includes transversely extending bar means providing a handle for moving said cart, by a workman, said bar means also providing sheet stock engaging means and being adapted to slidingly engage with the sheet stock material from the stock roll prior to its movement into said mechanism, said second mentioned coupling means being located on both ends of said cart and providing for said connecting of said cart to said mechanism from either end of said cart, said bar means being disposed lower than said coupling means and higher than said roll mounting means on said cart.

10. The combination in accordance with claim 9 wherein said cart is fabricated with the parts being formed from conventional metal tubular stock and welded together.

11. In a mechanism for producing low density pad-like cushioning dunnage product from sheet-like stock material, such as for instance paper, comprising a support having means thereon adapted for rotatably mounting a multi-ply roll of sheet-like stock material in operative rotatable position on said mechanism and a stitching means downstream from said support and adapted to receive the sheet-like stock material therein and operable to connect the same into a pad-like cushioning dunnage product, said support having generally fixed coupling means thereon, and a separate mobile cart having generally fixed coupling means thereon coacting with the first mentioned coupling means for physically connecting said cart to said mechanism, the first and second mentioned coupling means being connectable and separable by generally aligned horizontal linear movement of said cart and said second mentioned coupling means toward or away from said mechanism and said first mentioned coupling means, said cart having means thereon for rotatably mounting a stock roll of sheet-like stock material thereon for feeding into said mechanism for the production of the pad like cushioning dunnage product, and whereby said cart is operable for supporting a larger roll of stock material in operative position for use by said mechanism as compared to the size of roll of stock material able to be mounted on said support, and wherein said first mentioned coupling means comprises generally linear substantially rigid projections extending laterally of said support, and said coupling means on said cart comprising receptacle structure having recesses receiving therein said pro-jections in the coupled condition of said cart to said mechanism, and wherein said mechanism comprises a frame, said support com-prising a pair of generally vertically oriented laterally spaced plate-like members mounted in cantilevered relation to said frame adjacent the entranceway to said mechanism, each of said plate-like members having one of said projections mounted thereon and extending therefrom in the direction of said cart, and means on each of said plate-like members for adjusting the position of said projections in a direction transversely of said mechanism for aiding in alignment of said projections with the respective recesses in said receptacle structure of said cart.

12. In a mechanism for producing low density pad-like cushioning dunnage product from sheet-like stock material, such as for instance paper, in multi-ply roll form, said mechanism comprising a frame, a stitching means on said frame adapted to receive the sheet-like stock material therein and operable to connect the same into a pad-like cushioning dunnage product, a longitudinally converging chute means mounted on said frame upstream from said stitching means and including a widened entrance mouth portion, and operable for causing inward rolling of the lateral edges of the sheet-like stock material into generally rolled-like form prior to entry of the sheet-like stock material into said stitching means, said mechanism including fixed coupling means thereon projecting laterally of said mouth portion, and a separate mobile cart having forward and rearward ends and having fixed coupling means thereon at said forward end coacting with the first mentioned coupling means, for physically connecting said cart to said mechanism, said first mentioned coupling means projecting laterally of said mouth portion in the direction of said cart, and the first and second mentioned coupling means being connectable and separable solely by generally aligned horizontal linear movement of said cart and said second mentioned coupling means toward or away from said mechanism and said first mentioned coupling means, said cart having means thereon for rotatably mounting a stock roll of multi-ply sheet-like stock material thereon for feeding into said mech-anism for the production of the pad-like cushioning dunnage pro-duct, separating means on said mechanism upstream from said mouth portion fox separating the sheets of stock material as the latter move from the roll on said cart toward said mechanism and said mouth portion, and a single means extending transverse relative to said mechanism and said cart and coacting with said roll mounting means, about which the sheet-like stock material from the roll on said cart is adapted to pass in multi-ply form prior to passing into said separating means whereby the location in said mechanism of commencement of entry of the sheet-like stock material toward said separating means remains constant irrespective of the diameter of the stock roll, said transverse extending means being disposed lower than said first and said second mentioned coupling means and higher than said roll mount-ing means on said cart and said separating means on said mech-anism, said stitching means being operable to pull the sheet-like stock material from the stock roll about said transverse extend-ing means, and then through said separating means and said chute means.